Corrective device for clubfoot

ABSTRACT

A corrective device for clubfoot comprising a sole plate adjustable laterally at both forward and rearward ends with reference to a position brace attached thereto, having a clamp for mounting on an object which has a fixed longitudinal orientation. The brace and clamp structure are adapted for universal mounting on numerous objects, depending on what is appropriate for the age of the wearer, such as tricycle pedals in the case of young children. A pair of rigid integrally formed guides or restraint members extend upwardly from each side of the sole plate at a rearward location and another pair at a forward location of the sole plate. The rigid restraint members hold the shoe or foot of a patient securely in place on the sole plate. Straps are connected to the outer ends of the restraint members for fastening over the patient&#39;&#39;s foot or shoe to hold the sole plate thereto. An integrally formed rigid heel plate extends upwardly from the rear of the sole plate.

United States Patent [191 McKim Dec. 9, 1975 CORRECTIVE DEVICE FOR CLUBFOOT [76] Inventor: Elvin McKim, 1821 Robert St., [57] ABSTRACT W1lm1ngton,ll 60481 A corrective device for Clubfoot comprising a sole [22] Filed: Nov. 1, 197.4 plate adjustable laterally at both forward and rearward ends with reference to a position brace attached [21] Appl' 519339 thereto, having a clamp for mounting on an object which has a fixed longitudinal orientation. The brace [52] US. Cl. 128/80 J n l mp s ru re re adap e for univers l mount- [51] Int. Cl. A61F 3/00 ing n numerous j depending on What is pp [58] Field of Search 128/80 J, 80 R, 80 A, 83 priate for the age of the wearer, such as tricycle pedals in the case of young children. A pair of rigid integrally [56] References Cited formed guides or restraint members extend upwardly UNITED STATES PATENTS from each side of the sole plate at a rearward location and another pair at a forward location of the sole 2 3233 2:2? plate. The rigid restraint members hold the shoe or 2:585:342 2/1952 mor alijjl Q1: 128/80 A foot of a Paltient Securely in Place on the sole Plate- 2,702,542 2/1955 Gessel 128/80 A Straps are Connected to the Outer ends of the restraint 2,920,620 I/1960 Rogers 128/80 A e s r fast ning over the patients foot or shoe 3,777,747 12/1973 Friedman 128/80 A to hold the sole plate thereto. An integrally formed Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-.l. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or FirmEmest S. Kettelson rigid heel plate extends upwardly from the rear of the sole plate.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 0f 2 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 CORRECTIVE DEVICE FOR CLUBFOOT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sole plate devices for treatment of the condition known as clubfoot. Various braces, splints and other devices have been developed which attempt to hold the patients foot in a corrective position. The prior art devices have been cumbersome and complicated, and have usually provided adjust ment means which while being variable to several desired settings could not always be held with certainty in such position for a substantial length of time. Retaining the exact corrective position for long periods of time is an essential requirement for the successful treatment of clubfoot. The corrective position of adjustment is usu ally lost in the existing devices when they are loosened and removed for a time. They should retain the exact corrective position when they are again placed on the feet. The prior art devices are also made for attachment to a specific fixed orientation member, rather than providing a universal type brace and clamp structure which may be affixed to a large number of such objects depending on what is appropriate, and of interest, to the patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a corrective device for clubfoot comprising a sole plate, a universal position brace and clamp for mounting on any appropriate object of fixed longitudinal orientation, and permanently securable adjustment means to adjust the lateral position of said sole plate with respect to said position brace both forwardly and rearwardly of said sole plate.

It is an object of the invention to provide a corrective device for clubfoot having rugged, simply constructed, restraint members extending upward from each side of said sole plate to securely hold the foot of a patient in place on the sole plate.

It is an object of the invention to provide a corrective device for clubfoot which may be securely adjusted to a desired corrective position and rigidly held in such position for any desired length of time, including while not being worn as well as while being worn, whereby the device is in exactly the same selected corrective position each time the device is put on until the patient is ready for a progressively more corrective position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa corrective device for clubfoot in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the corrective device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the corrective device from the bottom.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the corrective device from the top.

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 5 showing the counter sunk bolts seated with heads flush with the sole plate surface.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the universal U-shaped position brace illustrating the permanently securable lateral adjustment positions for the forward and rearward end regions of the sole plate.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A sole plate 1 is formed of a strong metal in the general outline shape of a footprint or sole of a foot. Integral restraint members 2 and 3 are formed to extend upwardly and forwardly at an angle from each opposite side of sole plate 1 near the rearward end region 4. Another pair of restraint members 5 and 6 are integrally formed to extend upwardly from each opposite side of the sole plate 1 near the forward end region 7. These integrally formed restraint members extend upwardly a sufficient distance to bear firmly against a substantial part of each side of the patients foot to hold the foot securely between the rigid restraints and in place on the sole plate.

An integrally formed heel plate 8 extends upwardly from sole plate I at the rearward end region 4 to bear against the back of the heel of a patients foot.

A fastening strap 9 is attached to the free ends of restraint members 2 and 3, and another fastening strap 10 is attached to-the free ends of restraint members 5 and 6. The straps go over the foot of the wearer to hold the sole plate firmly against the bottom of the wearers foot.

The sole plate includes a hole 11 at the forward end and a hole 12 at the rearward end, each of said holes having a tapered recess to receive the corresponding tapered heads 13 of bolts 14 to lie flush with the sole plate surface when seated in place with the bolt shanks 15 extending through the holes 11 and 12.

A U-shaped position brace 16 is provided having two spaced apart walls 17 and 18 extending upward respectively from opposite ends of base 19. A short flange 20 extends forwardly from the upper end of wall 17 and a longer flange 21 extends rearwardly from the upper end of wall 18, forwardly and rearwardly being with reference to the corresponding ends of the sole plate to which position brace is attached.

Four lateral adjustment positions are provided by holes 22, 23, 24 and 25 formed in closely spaced apart relationship in and extending laterally and somewhat diagonally across said forwardly extending flange 20, the first hole 22 being located near edge 26 of flange 20 and the fourth hole 25 being approximately at midpoint laterally of flange 20.

Three lateral positions are provided in the embodiment shown by holes 27, 28 and 29 formed in closely spaced apart relationship in and extending laterally and somewhat arcuately across said rearwardly extending flange 21, the first hole 27 in this group being located relatively near edge 27 of flange 21, which is on the opposite side of the brace from edge 26 of flange 20. The third hole 29 is located at approximately midpoint laterally of flange 21.

The brace 16 is placed adjacent the bottom surface of sole plate 1 with a desired one of the holes 22, 23, 24 or 25 of flange 20 in registration with forward hole 11 of the sole plate, and a desired one of holes 27, 28 or 29 of flange 21 in registration with rearward hole 12 of the sole plate. Bolts 14 are placed through such respective holes. Lock washers 30 and nuts 31 are placed on the threaded ends of bolts 14 which extend through sole plate 1 and respective flanges 20 and 21, and the nuts are securely tightened. The sole plate 1 is thus rigidly and permanently secured to position brace 16in whatever laterally corrective position selected. This selected position cannot shift or move until the nuts are removed and the bolts withdrawn for replacement in a different, or progressively more corrective position.

A re-inforcing strap 32 is welded across the upper span of position brace 16 between the respective upper edges from which flanges 20 and 21 extend. This reinforcing strap provides greater strength and rigidity of the position brace.

A clamp 33 is provided, comprising a threaded shank 34 extending through an internally threaded nut 35 welded to wall 18, in registration with a hole therethrough, at a location on the midline of wall 18 slightly above center toward flange 21. A head 36 is formed at the end of shank 34 which extends rearwardly and outwardly of wall 18, said head having hand grasp cars 37 for turning by hand. An abutment plate 38 is rotatably affixed to the opposite end of threaded shank 34, having a flat bearing surface 39 facing inwardly and forwardly of wall 18.

The purpose of clamp 33 is to enable attachment of the position brace 16 and sole plate 1 to an object of fixed longitudinal orientation. Such object is received within the broad opening defined by the base 19, end walls 17 and 18, and reinforcing strap 32 of brace 16, and clamp 33 is tightened by rotating threaded shank 34 through nut 35 until flat bearing surface 39 of abut- 'ment plate 38 bears against the object, clamping it between plate 38 and the opposite end wall 17 of the position brace.

The contour of the opening provided by the position brace 16 of this invention, and the clamp 33 associated therewith, is of universal character able to receive and accommodate objects of any, or universal, configuration. The corrective device in accordance with this invention is therefore able to be used with a large variety of objects which have a fixed longitudinal orientation, depending on what may be appropriate for the age of the patient and his interests. Even moving objects may be used provided they do have a fixed longitudinal orientation, such as tricycle pedals for example. A patient is better able to tolerate corrective devices holding his feet oppositely from the clubfoot condition for much longer periods of time if they can be affixed to objects that provide an element of interest and enjoyment.

When the corrective devices of this invention are to be removed from the feet, all that need be done is unbuckle the straps. The corrective lateral adjustment of sole plate 1 attached to position brace 16 need not be disturbed, and it is impossible to move such corrective lateral position out of adjustment without loosening the nuts 31 and removing bolts 14 from the selected holes. It is desired for successful treatment of clubfoot that the same corrective position be maintained for relatively lengthy periods of time, during which the devices will be removed and put on many different times, and after the foot becomes able to maintain such partially corrected position to move to a progressively more corrective position, again maintaining that exact position for a relatively lengthy period of time. The invention which is embodied in the corrective device for clubfoot described and disclosed herein is able to accomplish such desired objects.

I claim:

1. A corrective device for clubfoot, including a sole plate having a peripheral configuration which conforms to that of a human foot, rigid centering means to hold said foot firmly in place on said sole plate, corrective positioning means to adjust said sole plate laterally to a desired corrective position with respect to a fixed longitudinal orientation, permanently securable means to retain said sole plate in said corrective position, and releasable attachment means to releasably retain said corrective positioning means in a desired fixed longitudinal orientation, said sole plate being made of strong metal and said rigid centering means comprising upwardly extending bearing surface means along opposite portions of the side edges of said sole plate, wherein said upwardly extending bearing surface means comprises a first pair of upwardly and forwardly extending metal arms integrally formed with said sole plate at a location rearward thereof and on opposite sides, said first pair of arms forming an acute angle with said sole plate facing forwardly and being parallel with each other, and a second pair of upwardly extending metal arms integrally formed with said sole plate at a location forward thereof and on opposite sides, said second pair of arms being parallel with each other.

2. A corrective device for clubfoot as set forth in claim 1, including a second such device, said second device being a mirror image of such device and conformed for use on the opposite one of a pair of feet.

3. A corrective device for club foot, including a sole plate having a peripheral configuration which conforms to that of a human foot, rigid centering means to hold said foot firmly in place on said sole plate, corrective positioning means to adjust said sole plate laterally to a desired corrective position with respect to a fixed longitudinal orientation, permanently securable means to retain said sole plate in said corrective position, and releasable attachment means to releasably retain said corrective positioning means in a desired fixed longitudinal orientation, said corrective positioning means including universal bracket means for cooperative attachment to said sole plate, a plurality of positioning holes provided in'said universal bracket means arranged laterally thereof when said bracket means is attached to said sole plate, hole means provided in said sole plate for registration with selected ones of said plurality of positioning holes in said bracket means, wherein said universal bracket means includes a U- shaped bracket member having a broad lateral dimension not greater than the lateral dimension of said sole plate, said U-shaped bracket including a base, a pair of spaced apart end walls extending upward from each longitudinal end of said base, each of said end walls including flanges extending longitudinally from the upper ends thereof in opposite directions away from each other, said flanges lying in a plane substantially parallel to said base, and wherein said plurality of positioning holes are located in each of said flanges respectively, and arranged laterally thereof.

4. A corrective device for clubfoot as set forth in claim 3, wherein said releasable attachment means includes a threaded stud threadedly mounted through one of said end walls of said U-shaped bracket member, a head thereon at the outward projecting end of said stud, a bearing plate mounted on the opposite end of said stud projecting inwardly between said spaced apart end walls, said bearing plate being movable longitudinally on said inwardly projecting end as said threaded stud is turned to bear against an object of universal configuration having a fixed longitudinal orientation which is received between said spaced apart end walls, said base and said sole plate attached to said U-shaped bracket member.

said bracket and extending inwardly across said flange to mid region, the said flange extending from said second end wall having three of said positioning holes located therein, said holes being spaced apart and aligned laterally and arcuately across a portion of said flange beginning near the edge on the opposite second side of said bracket and extending inwardly across said flange to mid region. 

1. A corrective device for clubfoot, including a sole plate having a peripheral configuration which conforms to that of a human foot, rigid centering means to hold said foot firmly in place on said sole plate, corrective positioning means to adjust said sole plate laterally to a desired corrective position with respect to a fixed longitudinal orientation, permanently securable means to retain said sole plate in said corrective position, and releasable attachment means to releasably retain said corrective positioning means in a desired fixed longitudinal orientation, said sole plate being made of strong metal and said rigid centering means comprising upwardly extending bearing surface means along opposite portions of the side edges of said sole plate, wherein said upwardly extending bearing surface means comprises a first pair of upwardly and forwardly extending metal arms integrally formed with said sole plate at a location rearward thereof and on opposite sides, said first pair of arms forming an acute angle with said sole plate facing forwardly and being parallel with each other, and a second pair of upwardly extending metal arms integrally formed with said sole plate at a location forward thereof and on opposite sides, said second pair of arms being parallel with each other.
 2. A corrective device for clubfoot as set forth in claim 1, including a second such device, said second device being a mirror image of such device and conformed for use on the opposite one of a pair of feet.
 3. A corrective device for club foot, including a sole plate having a peripheral configuration which conforms to that of a human foot, rigid centering means to hold said foot firmly in place on said sole plate, corrective positioning means to adjust said sole plate laterally to a desired corrective position with respect to a fixed longitudinal orientation, permanently securable means to retain said sole plate in said corrective position, and releasable attachment means to releasably retain said corrective positioning means in a desired fixed longitudinal orientation, said corrective positioning means including universal bracket means for cooperative attachment to said sole plate, a plurality of positioning holes provided in said universal bracket means arranged laterally thereof when said bracket means is attached to said sole plate, hole means provided in said sole plate for registration with selected ones of said plurality of positioning holes in said bracket means, wherein said universal bracket means includes a U-shaped bracket member having a broad lateral dimension not greater than the lateral dimension of said sole plate, said U-shaped bracket including a base, a pair of spaced apart end walls extending upward from each longitudinal end of said base, each of said end walls including flanges extending longitudinally from the upper ends thereof in opposite directions away from each other, said flanges lying in a plane substantially parallel to said base, and wherein said plurality of positioning holes are located in each of said flanges respectively, and arranged laterally thereof.
 4. A corrective device for clubfoot as set forth in claim 3, wherein said releasable attachment means includes a threaded stud threadedly mounted through one of said end walls of said U-shaped bracket member, a head thereon at the outward projecting end of said stud, a bearing plate mounted on the opposite end of said stud projecting inwardly between said spaced apart end walls, said bearing plate being movable longitudinally on said inwardly projecting end as said threaded stud is turned to bear against an object of universal configuration having a fixed longitudinal orientation which is received between said spaced apart end walls, said base and said sole plate attached to said U-shaped bracket member.
 5. A corrective device for clubfoot as set forth in claim 3, wherein a first one of said end walls of said U-shaped bracket is adapted for attachment to the forward end region of said sole plate, the second one of said end walls is adapted for attachment to the rearward end region of said sole plate, the said flange extending from said first end wall having four of said positioning holes located therein, said holes being spaced apart and aligned laterally across a portion of said flange beginning near the edge on a first side of said bracket and extending inwardly across said flange to mid region, the said flange extending from said second end wall having three of said positioning holes located therein, said holes being spaced apart and aligned laterally and arcuately across a portion of said flange beginning near the edge on the opposite second side of said bracket and extending inwardly across said flange to mid region. 